mediate
To intervene between parties to help reach an agreement
Examples
In a meeting
“I'll mediate the discussion between the two departments to find common ground.”
Over coffee
“My mom always has to mediate arguments between me and my sister.”
Why this word
negotiate
mediate means facilitating agreement between others as a neutral third party, while negotiate means bargaining directly for one's own interests
intervene
mediate involves structured facilitation of dialogue between parties, while intervene is broader and can mean simply stepping into a situation
arbitrate
mediate focuses on helping parties reach mutual agreement, while arbitrate involves making a binding decision for them
Usage tip
Best used when describing active involvement in resolving disputes or facilitating communication between conflicting parties.
Etymology
Latin: mediare (to be in the middle), from medius (middle)
Get a new word every morning
One precise word per day. Under 60 seconds to read. Free forever.
Related words
broach
To bring up or introduce a topic for discussion
concise
Giving a lot of information clearly in few words.
ambiguous
Open to more than one interpretation; not clear or decided.
convey
To communicate or make an idea, feeling, or meaning known.
reiterate
To say something again for emphasis or clarity.
paraphrase
To restate something in different words to make it clearer or shorter.